PC's Better year

[Peter Connan]

18 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

Have you got any other angles of your chat? Tractrac is supposed to have a white rump and top of tail. is this not a pale familiar chat?

 

Not of this particular bird. 

Looking at the photos here: http://www.warwicktarboton.co.za/birdpgs/590TTCha.html, the white is only visible when it lifts it's wings. I will say this: according to the distribution maps in my book, Kgalagadi is well within it's range, but looking now at Biodiversity Explorer, it seems less likely.

So I don't know...

Edited July 31, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

116) Barn Owl

 

Nonnetjie-uil

Tyto alba

 

 

27 April, Kgalagadi

[Peter Connan]

117) Red-headed Finch

 

Rooikopvink

Amadina erythrocephala

 

 

Kgalagadi, 27 April

[Peter Connan]

118) White-backed Mousebird

 

Witkruismuisvoel

Colius colius

 

 

Kgalagadi, 27 April

[Peter Connan]

119) Pygmy Falcon

 

Dwergvalk

Polihierax semitorquatus

 

 

 

Kgalagadi, April

[Peter Connan]

120) Secretary Bird

 

 

 

 

The San people apparently believed that Secretary birds don't nest, as seeing them on a nest is a very rare occurence, but I can hardly believe it, since I have seen them on nests three times...

 

 

Kgalagadi, April

[Tdgraves]

6 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

 

Not of this particular bird. 

Looking at the photos here: http://www.warwicktarboton.co.za/birdpgs/590TTCha.html, the white is only visible when it lifts it's wings. I will say this: according to the distribution maps in my book, Kgalagadi is well within it's range, but looking now at Biodiversity Explorer, it seems less likely.

So I don't know...

 

The side of its' tail feathers at the top are buffy orange not white, so I would say familiar, but I'm no expert....

[Dave Williams]

Very envious of the Pygmy Falcon and Secretary Bird to say nothing of the Barn Owls which are joint top of my want to photograph UK birds. You got some cracking shots.

[Peter Connan]

3 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

 

The side of its' tail feathers at the top are buffy orange not white, so I would say familiar, but I'm no expert....

Some of these are so tricky! Perhaps a real expert like @Galana or @offshorebirder can enlighten us?

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Dave Williams

Barn owl is a real beauty. Not sure how you feel about this type of thing, but they have a trained example at Dullstroom Birds of Prey. I've seen som3 really stunning photos of that bird!

[offshorebirder]

@Peter Connan - I agree with @Tdgraves.     I think we can see enough of the color of the base feathers of the uppertail to say it does not have a pale patch.

 

I did a Google image search for Familiar Chat and was able to find a photo of a pale Familiar Chat taken in South Africa (Western Cape Province) that looks similar to your bird.

 

http://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/familiar-chat-cercomela-familiaris/stone-side-view-0

 

Some great photos in this thread by the way!

[Elsa Hoffmann]

Peter - still enjoying the great images. Love the dwergvalkie especially 

[PeterHG]

Love the Owl and the Pygmy Falcon especially, Peter, great shots! 

[Peter Connan]

Thanks everyone.

 

Right then, Familiar Chat it is. Once again, the total remains un-changed.

 

 

[Peter Connan]

121) Verraux's Eagle-owl

 

Reuse Ooruil

Bubo lacteus

 

 

In this case, it appears to be eating a young Goshawk.

 

Kgalagadi, 28 April

[Peter Connan]

122) Wahlberg's Eagle

 

Bruinarend

Aquila wahlbergi

 

 

Kgalagadi, 28 April

[Peter Connan]

123) (Sticking my neck out again) Gabar Goshawk

 

Kleinsingvalk

Melierax gabar

 

 

Kgalagadi, 27 April

[Peter Connan]

124) Burchell's Sandgrouse

 

Gevlekte Sandpatrys

Pterocles burchelli

 

 

 

 

Kgalagadi, April

[Peter Connan]

These next two birds are about as close to EBC as I am currently comfortable with:

 

125) Cinnamon-Breasted Bunting.

 

 

Kgalagadi, 28 April

[Soukous]

2 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

These next two birds are about as close to EBC as I am currently comfortable with:

 

 

 

Kgalagadi, 28 April

 

EBC?

[Tdgraves]

@Soukous every bird counts

 

@Peter Connan me again! I think the gabar is a pale chanting...too tall, head too big, GISS etc. Sorry.

 

p.s. Roberts says that Wahlberg's do not occur in KTP.

Edited August 1, 2017 by Tdgraves

[Galana]

On 31/07/2017 at 2:09 PM, Peter Connan said:

Some of these are so tricky! Perhaps a real expert like @Galana or @offshorebirder can enlighten us?

Seeing as how you asked (but denying real expert status) I would go with a "very" Familiar Chat. You can just make out some rusty colour on the tail. Indeed if it had not been for that lack of white in underbody and tail I might have swung in a wild card and suggested Karoo!

 

10 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

123) (Sticking my neck out (again) Gabar Goshawk!

 

 

Very true. I agree with that. the barred breast and Supercilium puts my neck out there with yours.

I have not followed all of this but those I have seen are remarkable! Well done.

[xelas]

Well done, @Peter Connan! You are sticking your neck out ... me, I am putting my neck under the guillotine each time an LBJ's is to be ID .

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Tdgraves, @Galanaand @xelas

 

Regarding the (possible) Wahlberg's:

 

Here is a massive crop of the above picture. It appears to me that the gape extends behind the eye, which is why I believe it is not a Tawny.

 

The distribution map on Biodiversity Explorer, which is made up of sightings from the SABAP project, thus probably the most up-to-date source available, that it could be seen in the Kgalagadi. My Sasol book's map definately includes the Kgalagadi...

 

Me, I am not really sure.

Edited August 2, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Galana]

This is the second challenge on a Wahlberg's range this week. One in Sesreim and now one in KTFP.

Stick with it. I am not comfortable with the fanned tail but it is manouvering. Also should the underwing primaries be dark?